#blessedmortals

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Week 5: FINAL ART THURSDAY Art Piece: The Daughters of Ares

The art is complete! After guiding you through plans, sketches, and timelapses, we proudly present the final reveal—where imagination meets the mythic at Lockett Studio.

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From the heights of Mount Olympus, I, Zeus, observe the mortal realm and bless those with pure hearts and noble actions, like Asclepius, Ganymede, and Semele, elevating them to divinity. Their virtues reflect the gods' benevolence, inspiring reverence through the ages.

I, Zeus, favor the Dioscuri twins, Castor and Pollux, renowned for their bond and protection of sailors. Castor, son of Tyndareus, excels in horsemanship, while Pollux, born of myself, is a skilled boxer. Despite their mixed parentage, I grant Pollux immortality and ensure his eternal companionship with Castor, immortalized as the constellation Gemini.

I, Zeus, am captivated by Ganymede’s beauty. Disguised as an eagle, I abduct him and make him the gods' cupbearer, replacing Hebe. Ganymede, now immortal, serves nectar on Olympus, embodying eternal youth and beauty.

I, Dionysus, see my mother Semele die when Zeus reveals his true form. I descend to the Underworld to plead with Hades for her release, bringing her back to life and welcoming her to Olympus as an immortal.

I, Poseidon, witness Ino and her son Melicertes escape Hera’s wrath by leaping into the sea. I transform them into sea deities, Leukothea and Palaimon, protectors of sailors. Leukothea even saves Odysseus on his journey home from Troy. I, Hermes, save Apollo's son Asclepius from the funeral pyre. Raised by the centaur Chiron, Asclepius masters healing and even resurrection, earning his place among the gods as the deity of medicine and healing.

[lockettopia]

Each week we offer surprising and lesser known trivia facts about the selected mythic tale. So here we go! 7 fascinating facts you may or may not know 1. Semele's Tragic Fate: Before her transformation, Semele's excessive pride led to her demise, as she demanded to see Zeus in his full divine glory, resulting in her incineration.

2. Asclepius' Mortal Origins: Despite his divine status, Asclepius was originally a mortal son of the god Apollo and the mortal woman Coronis.

3. Asclepius' Healing Symbols: The snake wrapped around Asclepius' staff represents the cyclical nature of life and death, symbolizing the healing process.

4. Caduceus' Ancient Origins: The caduceus actually originated from ancient Mesopotamia as a symbol of peace and negotiation, not specifically associated with trade or communication.

5. Ganymede's Celestial Reward: As a reward for his service, Ganymede was placed among the stars as the constellation Aquarius.

6. Dioscuri Twins' Divine Bond: The Dioscuri twins were known for their unwavering loyalty and brotherly bond, often appearing together in myths and religious practices.

7. Leukothea's Tragic Past: Before her transformation, Leukothea was a mortal woman who was forced to sacrifice herself to save her brother from drowning.

[lockettopia]

Book 4 continues as Hera sends Iris to request a meeting with the sea Nymph Thetis and to ask Hephaestus to cease his blasting hammers and for Aiolos to provide a favorable wind for the Argonauts. Meeting with Thetis, Hera reveals that her son, Achilles, is destined to marry Medea in the afterlife. Therefore, the sea nymphs should assist the safe passage of the Argo through the treacherous sea channel to come, passing the luring songs of the sirens, the whirlpool of Charybdis, and the multiheaded dragon Skylla.

Thetis visits Peleus in secret advising that the argonauts should set sail with divine support. The Argo ship passes by the Sirens, the half-women, half-bird creatures whose voices enchant sailors to their doom. It is by Orpheus playing his song to drown out their seductive songs, that they can escape. Next, they enter the deadly waters between Charybdis and Skylla, but the sea Nereids arrive swimming below the ship, lifting it up over rocky shores to prevent wreckage.

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The Garden of the Hesperides was a mystical paradise in the far west, guarded by nymphs and Ladon, a hundred-headed serpent. It housed golden apples of immortality, a gift from Gaia to Hera. Despite its serenity, conflict occurred when Heracles tricked Atlas to retrieve the apples. The garden symbolizes immortality, temptation, and the boundary between life and death.

Here are the five surprising facts about the "Garden of the Hesperides":

1. Mysterious Location: The garden was often said to be at the western edge of the world, with various myths placing it in different locations, such as North Africa or an island.

2. Varied Parentage: The Hesperides had different origin stories, sometimes being daughters of Nyx and Erebus, or of Zeus and Themis, adding both cosmic and earthly significance.

3. Not Always Peaceful: Though a paradise, the garden saw conflict, especially with Heracles either killing Ladon or tricking Atlas, leaving the garden in ruin.

4. Symbolism of Apples: The golden apples symbolized immortality or divine favor and were a gift from Gaia to Hera. Some believe they represent unattainable beauty or temptation.

5. Evening and Death: The Hesperides' connection to "Hesperos" (evening) linked them to the west and death, casting their paradise as a liminal space between life and death.

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The art is complete! After guiding you through plans, sketches, and timelapses, we proudly present the final reveal—where imagination meets the mythic at Lockett Studio.

The Argonauts arrive in the land of the Phaeacians, where they are welcomed with sacrificial festivities. However, the Colchian fleet arrives, demanding Medea's return. Medea pleads for protection, and the Phaeacian king and queen agree to safeguard her if she marries Jason. With their wedding solemnized, the Colchians relinquish their pursuit.

Afterward, the Argonauts are blown off course for nine days and trapped in the Libyan Sea. Stranded in a barren desert without food or water, they fall into despair, but Jason has a vision of the Hesperides, who encourage him to find strength. Inspired by a sign from Poseidon, the Argonauts lift their ship and carry it across the desert for twelve days, following a giant horse.

Eventually, they reach the garden of the Hesperides, only to find the goddesses grieving, as Herakles had slain the serpent guarding the golden apples. After refreshing themselves, the Argonauts are guided by Triton to a channel, allowing them to continue their journey.

[lockettopia]

Timelapse Tuesday Art Piece: The Daughters of Ares

Here is my color sketch process for this week's image "The Daughters of Ares" final image coming later this week. Stay tuned for close-up teaser images to be posted tomorrow on Wednesday as well as some fun trivia facts 🤙🏛

Like this art? It will be in my illustrated book with over 130 other full page illustrations coming soon to kickstarter. Please check my links in my linktree in my bio to join the kickstarter notification page. 🤟❤🏛

[lockettopia]

Each week we offer surprising and lesser known trivia facts about the selected mythic tale. So here we go! 5 fascinating facts you may or may not know

Dodona Planks' Ancient Origins: The Dodona planks were said to be older than the Greek civilization itself, dating back to the time of the Titans.

Orpheus' Tragic Fate: Despite his musical prowess, Orpheus' love for Eurydice led to his tragic downfall, as his failure to look back at her while escaping the underworld caused him to lose her forever.

Sirens' Musical Origins: The Sirens were originally beautiful maidens who were gifted with enchanting voices by the gods, but their arrogance and vanity led to their transformation into monstrous creatures.

Nereids' Connection to Poseidon: The Nereids were considered daughters of the sea god Poseidon, and they were often depicted as his loyal servants and companions.

Charybdis and Scylla's Mythological Significance: The encounter with Charybdis and Scylla was considered one of the most perilous challenges faced by the Argonauts, symbolizing the dangers and obstacles that heroes must overcome on their quests.